Australia’s defenses in the World Test Championship and ODI World Cup will only be available on Amazon Prime Video.
The streaming service has acquired the broadcast rights for every International Cricket Council (ICC) competition, including women’s and men’s, in Australia.
The recent ODI World Cup was aired in its entirety on Foxtel/Kayo, with select games including Australia’s matches being televised on the Nine Network. However, there won’t be a free-to-air component under this new agreement.
Men’s white-ball internationals are broadcast on Foxtel, however women’s internationals and men’s home Test matches in Australia are still available on Seven for free. Nine Network will air men’s away Ashes series in 2027 and 2031.
The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to sport anti-siphoning measures, which coincides with the current action.
Last week, Michelle Rowland, the minister of communications, submitted legislation to parliament that would update anti-siphoning rules and mandate that free-to-air services be given priority access to major sporting events.
“All Australians regardless of where they live, or what they earn, should have the opportunity to enjoy free TV coverage of iconic sporting events,” Rowland stated.
Geoff Allardice, the head of ICC, praised the collaboration with Amazon.
“We are very excited to be entering a new four-year partnership with Prime Video for ICC cricket rights in Australia,” he stated in a statement. The enthusiasm and fervor for ICC tournaments around the world, particularly in Australia where cricket supporters have been enjoying their men’s and women’s teams’ recent success, have been brought to light by the just finished men’s World Cup.
“We look forward to working with Prime Video Australia to provide an innovative coverage of world class cricket to more fans in Australia.”
The men’s Under-19 World Cup will kick off the new relationship between the ICC and Amazon, who also broadcast New Zealand’s home internationals into India, in January. The men’s T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA will be the first senior competition. Australia’s women will compete in the T20 World Cup later this year in Bangladesh in September and October.
Amazon has also revealed that a third season of the Test documentary, which will cover the 2-2 Ashes series in England this year, will be available in 2024.
“Being a cricket enthusiast, I was eager to witness the outcome of the match between the world’s top test bowling squad and the irresistible power of ‘BazBall’ batting. Head of Prime Video Australia and New Zealand Hushidar Kharas stated, “I’m thrilled to be able to experience the 2023 Ashes with our consumers in Australia and throughout the world. They were the most fiercely contested and unforgettable of recent times.
The 2019 ball-tampering controversy prompted the publication of the first Test season, and the 2021–22 men’s Ashes and tours of Pakistan and Sri Lanka prompted the release of the second season last year.
